Cursus

Miscellaneous

A long cropmark enclosure at Springfield Barnes, Essex, close to Chelmsford, interpreted as a Neolithic cursus, was investigated between 1979-85 By D.G. Buckley, J.D. Hedges & N. Brown which confirmed its date and established a site sequence. The enclosure was c. 690 m long and 37-49 m wide, the ditch being uninterrupted in all areas examined. Features within the interior at the eastern end included an incomplete ring of substantial post-pits which it is suggested originally formed a complete circle. Peterborough pottery, predominately Mortlake style, Grooved Ware, a small amount of Beaker pottery, earlier Bronze Age urn sherds, and flint artefacts of the late 3rd-early 2nd millennium were recovered from the cursus ditch and other features. Collectively the evidence indicates a prolonged period of use.

From ABSTRACTS, VOLUME 67, 2001 Proceedings of the prehistoric society